Constitutional changes in part of justice have come into effect

Amendments to Constitution of Ukraine in part of justice took effect today, Sept. 30.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Ukrainski Novyny, the bill voted by Rada on June 2 and signed by the president on June 28 has come into force three months and a day after its publication, which is today.

The law stipulates that judges will be appointed termless (instead of a five-year period under previous version of the Constitution), but they are deprived of immunity and might be apprehended by law enforcers under suspicion of grave crimes.

The amendments deprive the president and Rada of their right to dismiss judges, but the head of state keeps his or her ability to appoint them.

The tenure of a prosecutor general has been increased from five to six years, without the right to hold this position two terms back-to-back by one person.

According to Constitutional changes, only attorneys will be able to protect citizens in courts. This norm will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

The Constitution will allow for Ukraine to accept jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (the Hague, the Netherlands). This provision will come into effect three years after the bill's publication, i.e. on June 30, 2019.

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